Half of the sun's rays parted and switched across different locations, directing to the windows of the country manor.
Yihn-Vihaan has awakened from her comfortable sleep with a silent yawn, upon feeling the warmth of the late-morning sunlight streaming down through her open window. She found herself lying down with her left jawline resting on her palm, her double-bed was stuck into the log wall. She looked at it vacantly for a nanosecond, blinking twice.
She stirred drowsily. Her cider bedding dropped off her, then folded it in a proper way and fixed her entire bed. Yihn moved forward on her own time and had a seat, facing her vanity mirror which consisted of a table made of smooth-textured spruce lumbers.
She stared at her reflection, looking like she had not gotten enough sleep the previous night. Her sleek, natural black hair with more occupant traces of brown-dyed hair on the sides have not been messed up until she has awoken. Yihn's eyes felt heavy, dazed by oversleep that made her want to spend the rest of her day napping.
Yihn wearily picked up her brush; holding thick strands of her long hair. Just as she was only about to start combing, a baby poured out an emphatic cry next door, thus startling Yihn out of the emptiness of her thoughts. She puts down her brush and answered the baby's urgent call by heading to its room, melting her lethargy down.
The infant whined and faltered with unflagging resolve on its crib topped with ice-blue mattress and surrounded by stuffed animals. The bed spring was full of tears shed by the youngster, its face getting redder as long as it has not yet been given its needs.
Yihn was in a hurry that her foot nearly slipped if she had not touched the mull post, thanks to it. Yihn glanced at the baby's bed for a short time while she wondered what it would want for relief. She rushed towards the crib, carefully picked up the child and wrapped it in her arms for provision of comfort.
Yihn spotted a feeding bottle by the end counter standing beside the cradle and took it without delay. Still filled only with half remnants of cow's milk. Grasping the bottle, she pushed it until the nipple was hustled into the baby's mouth. Feeling the tip of it by the tongue was enough to silence the young one, as it started to suckle for the rightful beverage.
She was pleased after witnessing her bundle of joy quietened when its tongue tasted the first slightest drop of milk coming from the nipple of the bottle. Yihn could not resist beaming that her consolation had not gone wrong. She carried on holding the milk-filled container until the child has had enough. There she just realized how terribly hungry the newborn was.
A couple of seconds later, the baby was stuffed by the milk and ceased drinking for her morning meal. Yihn puts it back atop the counter and held her daughter with two hands. She persisted in cuddling her. She gave her a couple of light strokes. Her daughter reacted to those pats by voicing out coos of heart-piercing cuteness where Yihn lent her a kiss to the forehead that lasted for three seconds. Yihn felt so blessed to take on the duties of a mother for the first time.
She turned to look from behind, catching again the sight of another window with folded curtains, belonging to her daughter's bedroom. The rays have gotten brighter, dragging Yihn to have a glimpse of the outside world. She moved back to her spacious bedroom, still carrying the child with her.
Pushing her head without exerting great force, getting this fresh air from the blow of the wind. She looked everywhere like she came from nowhere. After coming up with somnolence on her last sleep, her view of her capacious frontal garden seemed new to her. Tidier than before, plants around her manor were never dry-leaved, greener than ever. Then she had a look down, descrying enough number of cows and bulls, along with some painstaking farmers who got up earlier than Yihn herself.
It came into her mind that she woke up late for sure–hours later.
Ruffling jingling of a deep-toned bell rumbled below Yihn's ground at an impeccable timing, alerting her with a turn to the open door, revealing the roomy corridor of her wood-built chateau to her eyes.
She was prompted to return to the vanity mirror and resume her makeover upon thinking that not even a single strand of hair has had her combed it. She puts the baby on her lap, making sure she would not fall. The infant had not wobbled. Then Yihn begun, she started by neatening thick strings of it.
Nevertheless, this was one of her earliest days to succeed the supremacy of her predecessor over the state of Aechleranne these days. So, she was still not used to taking on this new job. While she went on to beautify herself, the bell pealed over and over again. Its repetitious ringing did not notify Yihn; it was like her doze has blocked all the thoughts of doing a ruler's task into snapping inside Yihn's mind.
Minutes later, the new Baroness' weeks-old offspring was laid sitting on her mother's bed for a while. Curiously babbling gibberish words, shaking her body while off her mother's hands.
Yihn has gotten herself ready to meet the people of Aechleranne outside under a new, high-ranking position in the kinship group's feudal council. She was all ready to exit the house holding this respected role, sported in sleeveless vest patterned with thin, vertical lines colored with five kinds of yellow: the plain yellow color, dandelion, the pale one, darker gold and mustard. Her inner garment consisted of a black strapless, stretchy bra under her lined tops that was not fully covered by its bronze chains. She wore a black wrapped skirt inside another bottom which was a loincloth that resembled the linear motifs of her chained, open-chested vest. Then, a pearl-white belt to tighten her skirts.
Her right arm had a trio of golden hoop-like bracelets. She had one arm band on each arm that were shining gold, and had several accessories including pearl necklaces and golden chains and two jeweled rings on her middle and ring finger.
Yihn went downstairs with haste and answered someone on the door, who has been calling her attention lately. Yihn opened it, and at the same time she wore a head accessory with her with just one hand. A hoop with multiple, colorful and small feathers, and a differently exceptional pair of single hanging feathers of a pigeon and a seagull. Even the one knocking for her equipped head attires; however, it was not a flower crown but simply a hoop decorated with several bird feathers and a few hanging tiny jewelries, which were common for all the people of Aechleranne to wear to mark the origins of their birth.
"Baroness," it was Sachiro again, dipping his head politely.
Yihn did not reply at once. She masked herself with impassive silence. Despite being addressed as the highest-controlling nobility rank of Aechleranne. It was not enough to impress her.
"On behalf of Aechleranne's new leadership, are you still going to make it to the Drangtien Square?"
Yihn rubbed her forehead, raising an eyebrow in calm irritation to this distraction. Hearing this was out of her mind–practically, not in her schedule. "What? Now?"
"Yes, my Lady. You know, to celebrate your rise to leadership?" reminded the slim gentleman. "Part of our tradition, remember?" At a slow pace, Yihn's mind shredded with familiarity to the named ceremony. She should have been up earlier to come on time. "The carriage is waiting," added Sachiro.
"Alright, alright," Yihn was convinced. She stepped down from the log mansion's front door. "Do hurry if I am to catch up."
The herald dipped to his leader once more, "Yes, my Lady." And he walked from behind Yihn, just to follow after her. He maintained a closed distance between Yihn and himself to secure protective courtesy, while the guards waited by the open doors of the tangerine carriage with a pair of healthy white horses carrying the marigold-striped wagon.
He could not help noticing the baby Yihn has been carrying in her arms, who babbled and swayed her arms and feet all over again. At the same time, the overloading cuteness of their Baroness' offspring pricked his heart with burning serenity.
"Pardon me, my Lady," he excused in of what would have been Yihn's momentary silent walk on her way to the carriage. But she made no complaints as this servant of her went on. "Would you like me to carry your child for you?"
Yihn thought it was no more than a simple offer. She turned her head to her right where she heard Sachiro asking her that. Not meeting each other's eyes exactly. "No," she shook her head, "I will be fine, thank you." Her mouth was frowning grumpy, her eyes back to closing with relaxed air in her. Despite her thankful reply, there was no tint of gratefulness clear enough to be seen in Yihn's eyes.
Not causing any offense to her messenger, but he has been directing his eyes wholly into Yihn's daughter before they even got inside the carriage until now. She extended her arms striving to reach for his arms. Blinded by how adorable the youngster was, that's been keeping him distracted.
Two guards by the carriage adjusted to make a space a bit wider to prioritize Yihn's proper entrance into the ride. All of them, including the coach-driver, bowed their heads to their leader, to which Yihn replied nothing but a smugly stare veiled by her self-restraint. One of the guards offered her a hand, and well-manneredly escorted her inside.
The guards moved as the coachman prepared to tame the horses for leave. Two of them shared a seat at the exteriors of the caravan, their feet rested on the footboard. A single tap on the board by one of these gentlemen's feet signaled the driver to get going.
***
They have gone a long trip to the Drangtien Square, at the centermost isle of the island-type state. It was the heart of the Aechlerene people in terms of commemoration and festival activities. Historical structures and administrative castles were bounded together enclosed by the coast that surrounded its region–creating an expansive space within Drangtien's midfield, forming gigantic size of a square.
The carriage came from a hard, coal-black bridge that was connected to where the passengers last came from–that was practically more than five kilometers. The coachman brought his wagon into the reserved barn-style garage.
Every Drangtien folk nearby witnessed the arrival of their new ruler. They all ceased in their business and watched the carriage itself on its way to park and watched them as sort of paying homage, as well as to celebrate her daughter's birth several weeks ago.
One of the guards leaped up from the backseat as soon as the wagon was brought inside the car port. He gently opened the door for Yihn, coming behind the same male escort who remained accompanying her by having Yihn's right hand hooked inside her messenger's bent left arm.
On their way upstairs, with the guards following behind, Yihn was being glanced at more often by her guide, looking at her repetitiously, cowering his head when Yihn looked directly in front of her, aware of whatever she will step into next. The leader was quite serious; while the baby in her arms felt absolute tranquility. Too ashamed to speak to her, who was not always in her good mood. To the slightest extent, Yihn did not feel his arm trembling, despite her hand being in-touched with it.
Yihn had no idea what she was encountering. She only turned an ignorant attention to all the respectful gestures paid to her. She was unaware of what event truly awaited her arrival to the palace. It was only going to happen once in the lifetime of an appointed successor to Aechleranne's rule. All the more, she had not felt any thrill warming her body up; acting more of a socialite rather than a political leader.
From the tall glasses of the structure watching was one of the attendants to this certain celebration. This man had black glossy hair at nape level, curly textured with a thick beard around his jawline and above his upper lip, and a muscular appearance. Keeping an eye on how close Yihn and her guide were to the entrance door, already. He backed away from the window. Everything on the table must be completed with all the food served. Yihn enters the dining section of the palace.
"Yihn is coming!" alerted the latter to everyone in the same room. "Quick, arrange everything properly before she enters!" his voice thundered with urgency. "Hevihara, you take out the rod–place it on the corner, at once!"
"Certainly, father," promised his young son. He went to fetch a stick not so broad, but firm, taller than him that was from the wood of a grown coconut tree stem, with bushes of colorful species of flowers above it, with black feathers on top of it and did as what he was told.
He pointed to the caterers and the servants and commanded, "All of you, everything must be set!"
"Yes, Kervumasa!" obeyed the ladies and gentlemen.
The rest spent this littlest time sweeping the floor and placing every dish on the lengthy table which fits ten people on each side: red roses inside a cream vase with golden, swirling patterns along with a plain-white vase with a bouquet of colorful flowers in it–both had leaves around it; lustrous, golden bowl of organic fruits, meat and cheese platter, plate of multiple-holed cheese, a loaf of rye bread laid above a red-and-white checkered napkin, garden salad within a glass bowl, a plate of ham with the juicy scent of honey with lettuces and tomatoes to the sides, bowlful of mashed potatoes and two large bottles of whiskey including the complete number of wine glasses of the attendants.
The sounds of the footsteps drew closest to the door now. Everybody halted in their tracks in front of their proper seats at a good timing that they have done fixing what needed to be organized.
Yihn and Sachiro eventually stepped foot by the dining room's door. They stood their ground and addressed altogether, "Good noon, my Lady!"
The officials welcomed her warmheartedly, making their grins bigger as they could give her. Yihn appreciated with an unsentimental nature. She scanned the contented crowd of fellow Aechleranne government officials, straightforward. All with that normal crotchety look. The trendiest news of Yihn taking over rendered her people unsighted, they pushed on expressing praises. Yihn casted a look of the same manner at her co-workers as she was being directed to her seat by the same man like how an elder is supported.
Just as she had her seat, everyone sat down at the same time. Feasting their delighted eyes at her. Without a gesture from the seniors, young Hevihara padded to Yihn and took his leader's infant away from her mother's arms; thus, waking her up upon setting free to another person's hold. Hevihara placed the youngster on a premium high-chair right beside Yihn's seat. He and Yihn took a gander of each other. Hevihara dipped his head to the new Baroness without rushing, somewhat awkwardly, cautious of Yihn-Vihaan's stinging gaze. The detached woman rewarded him a quick, grateful bow, sending Hevihara returning to his chair.
Yihn spent the shortest of time to watch her colleagues from left to right. In no longer than half a minute. Yihn signaled with a nod of satisfaction and marking the start of their grand meal, smiling to some degree at last and sat in a more formal manner after resting her back heavily on her chair's splat.
***
"To you, our Lady, and to your leadership." Everyone raised their wine glasses filled with whiskey, and Kervumasa said more. "May your dominion mark a sanguine season for the freedom of Aechleranne." He lifted his glass higher. "To Baroness Yihn."
Yihn nodded in concurrence to the expectations of her followers, not only was she gruntled now, after remaining fierce-looking throughout her trip to Drangtien. She joined the gorgeous ladies and handsome gentlemen in the raising of their glasses as the attendants cheered, "To Baroness Yihn!"
They sipped from their glasses of whiskey as a group. Their thirsts have been quenched after stuffing themselves with various dishes. After taking small mouthfuls of their beverage, nobody saw Kervumasa whispering something to his son with their heads from under the table. "Hevihara, kindly get the stick."
A moment of stares and respectful smiles between Yihn and Kervumasa has been exchanged in the celebration by the time the curly-haired dignitary caught her expectant gaze. "So, my Lady, it is quite shocking to hear that Baron Srey has been taken from us too soon," he recalled to Yihn, frantically thinking of what related stuffs would sound most important to her, "I know I should not be the one playing this part but… to fulfill his last will, he has considered placing this crown of green leaves and colorful flowers to the very person he has chosen to succeed him."
This new crown was uplifted above the rest, with Kervumasa standing and importantly taking hold of it. Yihn's eyes stretched wide in astonishment. She could not believe this was happening right now–seeing and having received a real flower crown for her to sport.
He pressed on presenting the head accessory. "My lady, he has granted you this. Not only because of your valor; you have proven yourself to be his rightful deputy. And in the name of our ancestors, Lord Srey believed your strict adherence will take effect on the entire state of Aechleranne."
To get the wills of the late Baron Srey done at long last, Kervumasa placed the flower crown reaching the sides of Yihn's head in the earliest departure of their previous ruler. "Of course," assured Yihn. "I will always put Aechleranne above anything else."
Skepticism stepped foot into Yihn's mind upon her private coronation. Albeit I want to become Baroness, looking down blankly, Yihn blinked her eyes little by little into different directions on the table, But this early? How will I be able to take care of my little Yanica? Her thoughts sank down into burdensome hassles. Srey failed to teach me enough supervision cues.
Baron Srey has passed away at the unexpected day according to his devoted companions. Her early days on the leadership role will be tough times for Yihn to manage. Her focus was split into two tasks–headship and motherhood. This deep overthinking of Yihn did not get the attention of one of her colleagues, for their minds were kept on to enjoying the concurrent feast.
"Fate entrusts to you the guardianship of Aechleranne," Kervumasa's second call dragged the Baroness out of her thoughts back again. "Please do accept this gift, my Lady." Kervumasa next upraised a sturdy rod to Yihn coming from below the table.
Yihn laid hold of the stick; smirking. It had hard, rough texture of a coconut tree stem. The long, standing feathers at the peak of the rod were real, picked from live crows for sure; with yellow roses around it outside the downy barbs and hollow shafts glued to the stick. She held it in the same way as Kervumasa did–in an unchanged horizontal position. After receiving the rod, Yihn did not lower it in a trice. First, she dipped her head gratefully to her tablemates, followed by a round of applause given by them to her as sort of congratulations.
Yanica babbled louder in chorus the time she heard her seniors uttering softer whoops for her mother. The mother and infant daughter shared jovial beams; Yihn gave bounty to her daughter through an appreciative pat on her head, while the rest on the table glanced at them during that brief scene.
Yanica's patent charm darted the officials with adoration at first glance.
Yihn sipped from her whiskey glass once more as Kervumasa noted to her. "My Lady, have you decided yet pertaining to your relocation to Drangtien?"
Yihn's eyes opened wider in unforeseen astonishment. Putting an end to drinking her alcohol. Just what she would not want to hear from one of any leaders' advisors. In a split second, Yihn's dumbfounded bearing swooned into sedated after putting down her glass, looked behind and muttered to herself, "Look, who's giving me another concerns–", then she spoke it out to everyone, "I was not thinking about it quite lately," in turn, she just picked up a napkin and cleaned off excess, microscopic grains of food above her upper lip. "Maybe I could have settled here on the same day if I have been informed, earlier."
Regretful shame pained the napes and eyelids of her dining companions. "We are terribly sorry, my Lady. You know we have all been preparing this celebration for you." Kervumasa remarked.
"I did not even know Srey should have told me this, supposedly. Oh, dear, he left things unsettled for me to take care of." The brown-stripped-haired leader rubbed the side of her forehead once more upwards. "Double the wagon, and the staff tomorrow. We have packages to carry."
"Not a problem, my Lady." still, it was Kervumasa who led the agreeing response, and gave another toast to the Baroness; not higher than earlier.
Kervumasa, with a nod, signaled to Hevihara and not more than two of the council servants. They headed somewhere else without division. Yihn resumed eating; taking smaller bites of meat. While the rest felt embarrassed for Yihn's tone that grew loft without warning. "Which reminds me, I will think about the reigning party of Aechleranne, whom has served previously under Lord Srey."
Kervumasa exchanged confused glances with Hevihara and then with the female politicians. Lastly, their eyes back to Yihn. "Oh, yes?" anxiety had left a short blockage in everyone's throats. "What for, my Lady, if we may ask why?"
"I will be overseeing the performances of the rest of you," crossing her fingers. "If essential, I am going to make a switch or a change if you do not deserve your statuses."
"Woah, that was hurtful." That was Sachiro who commented to himself, sitting on the left end in contrast to Yihn's side.
"If you wish, my Lady," Kervumasa concurred in persuasion.
But, what makes you decide this early, Yihn? She thought to herself again, struggling for breath without sounding a deep sigh. Often looking down, so were the rest of the officials. Or are you just pretending to be this punctually concerned when it comes to the sake of your House? At the same time, she lost her appetite for thinking too much.
For this, Yihn went to stow a spoonful of soft beet chunks into her infant daughter's mouth. In the way Yanica stretched her arms out, and the way her mouth raided the wooden spoon, it appeared that she was not only hungry for milk. Her teeth wanted to chew.
A woman next to Kervumasa tap him on the arm twice, then inserted her fingers in between Kervumasa's leftmost chest and his bent arm, the woman probably his wife as her romantic gestures clued, which dragged his attention to her. She was the same pregnant lady whom Yihn requested to take hold of her child back to the time of Srey's death.
"Do you think she is okay?" she asked, wondering so much about Yihn's mood.
"Do not worry. The Baroness will be fine soon," Kervumasa assured.
Yihn, looking down abstractedly at her feet under the table, spoke without meeting at least the eyes of one of her colleagues. "Sachiro," she called.
"Yes, my Lady," came the herald's attentive reply.
"Kervumasa. Everyone." The Baroness paused feeding her child as she stated her reminders: "On my new authority as House ruler, I declare the rank of the Henchman or Henchwoman, or the right-hand person automatically vacant," she eyed each one of the noble party members in a manner full of disdain made unclear by her intelligent tone. "Part of my supervising tasks are to watch out for your performances within three moons under my reign."
Much better to be heard by her tablemates that she was speaking of congressional subjects despite having the serious look featured on her face rather than just stay quiet and mistaken her to be upset of somebody.
"And after those moons of management, I shall announce the appointed henchperson to the House. I may be too young for a Baroness, but do not think I know less about the Aechleranne Civil Ministration Election code. An Aechlerene leader needs a second-in-command who is steadfast. One who is capable of marking the might of our blood."
Everyone in the table exchanged thrilled glances in behalf of Yihn's reminders. She had seen past the hunger in her tablemates' eyes. Yearning for the position of right-hand person.
"Not only that. The performance of our farmers," she briefed. "Next week, Sachiro, I will send security troops to surveil their progress out there. You will report to me by the end of the week."
Sachiro bowed agreeingly. Ready to accept his first duty as a herald again since the death of the previous administrator, and now under a new ruler.
"Anything for me to do, my Lady? If I might interpose," Kervumasa joined in whilst Yihn swallowed down the pieces of lettuce her teeth chunked to bits.
Yihn switched her gaze from left to front. She had not unseen his wife being next to him. "The military can do without you now. I suggest you stay here and watch over Mokiri. Remember, you are now handling two main commissions. I have given you a task in the Aechlerenne Civil Ministration. You are the Chairperson." she reminded, pressing her words.
Kervumasa willingly obeyed his leader's commands with deference without side comments.
To the herald, Yihn said, "Oh, and Sachiro, I have got one more thing for you to do."
Sachiro nodded importantly to her as soon as he met the Lady's eyes. He was not feeling any sense of laze being triggered out of him.
"Meet up with the military tomorrow in Kervumasa's absence. Kindly tell them to keep a close watch on our borders."
The herald promised obediently with a last dip of his head.